Aeroplane flying machine



Feb. 26 1924.

H. 0. SHORT AEROPLANE FLYING MACHINE Filed Sent. 11 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Feb. 26, 1924. 1,485,305

H. 0. SHORT AEROPLANE FLYING MACHINE Filed Sent. 11, 1.922 2Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented F eb. 26, 1924. I

HUGH OSWALD SHORT, OF ROCHESTER, ENGLAND.

AEROPLANE FLYING MACHINE Application filed September 11, 1922. SerialNo. 587,562.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH OswALn SHORT, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at Norfolk Lodge. Borstal Road. Rochester, Kent.England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AeroplaneFlying Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to the construction of fuselages andflying boat hulls (hereafter in this specification termed fuselages) foraeroplane flying machines, in which it is desired to provide anall-metal construction, and further a construction in which, while beinglight in weight, the outer shell, or body as hereafter termed. forms themain strength factor of the structure and a structure in which thinsheet metal, as for instance a light and strong metallic alloy suchasduralumin can be advantageously and safely employed to form the saidbody.

According to this invention the body of the fuselage is composed of aplurality of annular sleeves of sheet metal, the end of one sleeveentering and fitting in contact for a requisite distance within theadjacent end of the next sleeve, and so on, and rings or annulartransverse frame members of angle section are made to coincide with theoverlapping ends of said annular sleeves said annular members beingsecured to said sleeves by the same rivets employed for securing thejoints of said sleeves.

The fuselage body may obviously be of circular, oval or elliptical formin cross section.

The structure may be further strengthened by fixing to the interiorsurfaces of the sleeves themselves a plurality of longitudinalstiffening girders of relatively short lengths extending from one anglesection ring to the next ring.

In carrying out the invention, each sleeve is composed of a stri (or aplurality of strips connected toget 'er) of' sheet metal cut to arequisite shape to conform with the contour of the fuselage body whichis to be produced, and such a strip of sheet metal is bent upon itselfinto annular form, such as circular, oval or elliptical as required, sothat its ends overlap and are connected together by rivets. The nextsleeve is similarly constructed and is made of such dimensions that-.ashort distance of one end enters and fits within the adjacent edge ofthe first-named sleeve so that the contacting annular edges of the twosleeves can then be riveted together, and similarly with succeedingsleeves.

The invention will be further described with reference to theaccompanying drawlngs.

Fig. 1 shows in elevation the body of a' fuselage according to thisinvention, prior to apertures being cut to receive the engine and toform cockpits for the aviator and others. I

Fig. 2 is a part transverse section of such a fuselage as shown at Fig.1, but drawn to a larger scale, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section ofa portion of the fuselage corresponding tothe transverse section shownat Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section, and Fig. 5 an interior plan view (drawn toa larger scale than the previous figures), showing a joint between theedges of two sheet metal strips forming strakes and other membershereafter described. I

Fig. 6 is a vertical section, and Fig. 7 is an external plan view,showing a joint at the junction of two sleevesl At Fig. 1 of thedrawings is shown the body composing the main portion of the fuselage,and which is adapted to take the main stresses to which the body may besubjected, and as will be observed the body is built up of a pluralityof annular sleeves of sheet metal, of such relative diameters that theforward end of one sleeve 1 enters for a short distance within the rearend of the next forward sleeve 2, and the forward end of the sleeve 2enters for a short distance within the rearward end of the next forwardsleeve 3, so that the sleeves overlap each other generally in planes atright angles to the longitudinal axis of the fuselage, and atsuchoverlapping portions the sleeves can be secured together by riveting orby any other known or equivalent means. In such a structure having beenso built up, openings such as 4, 5 and 6 (indicated by dotted lines) maybe cut to respectively accom-.

modate the engine, the pilot and the observer or passen ers. The dottedlines 7 indicate the position of the tail planes, and the dotted lines 8merel indicate the position of the lower wing re atively to thisparticular fuselage. Such a structure as has been described and whichforms the main portion of the fusela e, is adapted to take the mainstresses to w ich it will be subjected.

Entering into further details of construction and referring particularlyto Fig. 2, in the example here" shown the sleeve illustrated iscomposedof two strips of sheet metal 9, 10, the strips 9, 10 beingconnected together at 11 by Overlapping and riveting, and then bent tothe oval form shown and again overlapped and riveted at 12, and byforming the strips of the requisite shape, when so bent and connectedinto annular form, the sleeves 1, Fig. 3, so formed will fit at itsforward end for a short distance within the next forward sleeve 2, whilethe forward end of the latter sleeve 2 will fit for a short distancewithin the rear end of the next forward sleeve 3.

To strengthen the structure against stresses which would tend to deformthe body, considered in transverse section, I provide rings 13 of anglesection metal located within the shell constructed as described, 0? suchring 13 within each joint of the a nular sleeves, so that where oneannular sleeve overlaps. another the rivets connecting the two sleeveswill pass through one flange of the angle metal ring 13, and thisconstruction is shown very clearly upon an enlarged scale at Figs. 4 andv5, where the forward end of one sleeve 1 enters within the rearward endof the next sleeve 2- and rivets pass through the sleeves and throughthe angle metal ring 13. Strengthening rings such as 13 may, whenrequired, be also fitted intermediate of the junction of the sleeves.

Figs. 6 and 7 are views showing the joint where the overlapping ends,such as 12 Fig. 2, of the sheet metal strip forming one of the sleevesoverlaps the similar joint of the next sleeve, and it is believed itwill be readily understood and appreciated without further description.I

As a further strengthening device, where such is found necessary,longitudinal stilfening girders 14, Figs. 2 and 3, are fixed to theinterior surfaces of the sleeves composing the structure, suchgirders 14being each composed of divided lengths extending from one internal anglesection'ring 13 to the next internal ring 13, each longitudinal girder14 being rivete to the sleeves, and said girders 14 are arranged atdistances apart around the interior of the body.

Such members 14, which'I have termed girders, may conveniently becomposed of sheet metal bent into .a channel section and having flanges,as will be clearly seen at Fig. 2, and the flanges are utilized forriveting to the structure as is shown at Figs. 4 and 5.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1. In fuselages for aeroplane flying machines; a body composed of aplurality of annular sleeves of sheet metal the end of one of saidsleeves entering and fitting in contact for a requisite distance withinthe adjacent end of the next sleeve and so on, rings of angle sectionmetal located within the interior of the body,- one flange of each ringin contact with the interior surface thereof and located to coincidewith the overlapping ends of said annular sleeves, and rivets passingthrough said flanges of said rings and said overlapping ends of saidsleeves to permanently and rigidly fix together the overlapping andcontacting edges of said annular sleeves and said interiorly locatedrings.

2; In fuselages for aeroplane flying machines; a body composed of aplurality of annular sleeves of sheet metal the end of one of saidsleeves entering and fitting in contact for a requisite distance withinthe adjacent end of the next sleeve and so on, rings of angle sectionmetal located within the interior of the body, one flange of each ringin contact with the interior surface thereof and located to coincidewith the overlappin ends of said annular sleeves, rivets passing throughsaid flanges of said rings and said overlapping ends of said sleeves topermanently and rigidly fix together the overlapping and contactingedges of said annular sleeves and said interiorly located rings, and aplurality of longitudinally extending stiffening girders of relativelyshort lengths in contact with the in terior surfaces of the sleevescomposing the structure, said longitudinal girders extending from oneinternal angle section ring to the next internal ring, said girdersbeing arranged at distances a art around the interior of the bod andrivets to connect said longitudinal gir ers to said sleeves.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

HUGH. OSWALD' SHORT.

- Witnesses: JAMES HENRY Woon,

HENRY MILTON RELPH.

